Adjustable louvered ventilator



Nov. 14, 1961 M. c. BELDEN ET AL 3,008,520

ADJUSTABLE LOUVERED VENTILATOR Filed June 1, 1960 IN VEN TORS MEPLAND C. BELDEIV, DELBEPT E. BELDEN, JOSEPH A. BAPTOLE ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,008,520 ADJUSTABLE LOUVERED VENTILATOR Merland C. Belden, Highway 169 and Highway 5, Hopkins, Minn.; Delbert R. Belden, 9311 Franklin, Minneapolis, Minn; and Joseph A. Bartole, Parkers Lake,

Minn.

Filed June 1, 1960, Ser. No. 33,278 9 Claims. (Cl. 160-223) This invention relates to ventilators and more particularly to adjustable louvered ventilators for use with gable roofs of varying pitch.

An object of this invention is to provide a novel, angularly adjustable louvered ventilator, of simple and inexpensive construction, which is readily adjustable for use with gable roofs regardless of the pitch of a roof.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved angularly adjustable louvered ventilator for use with gable roofs and the like and which arranged and constructed to cause simultaneous pivotal movement of the louvers about their respective longitudinal axes during angular adjustment of the ventilator.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved angularly adjustable louvered ventilator for use with gable roofs and the like and which includes a plurality of longitudinally extensible and retractable louvers arranged and constructed to pivot about their longitudinal axis during angular adjustment of the ventilator from one angle to another.

These and other objects and advantages of our invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

FIG. -1 is an end elevational view of a gable type roof incorporating our novel angularly adjustable louvered ventilator;

FIG. 2 is a front view on an enlarged scale of our novel adjustable louvered ventilator with certain parts broken away and illustrated in an adjusted position by a dotted line configuration;

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross sectional view taken approximately along line 3-3 of FIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken approximately along line 4-4 of FIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 4 but with the louver shown in a different adjusted position than that of FIG. 4.

Referring now to the drawings, and more specifically to FIG. 1, it will be seen that a fragmentary view of the conventional gable roof is shown and includes a hip joint 11 comprised of 'frieze boards 12 disposed with their ends in angulated abutting relation. As is well known in the art, the pitch of the conventional gable roofs may vary from a relatively shallow angle to a very steep angle and if the louvered ventilator is prefabricated, then it must have a wide range of adjustability to fit the varying pitches or it must be specifically tailored to accommodate the roofs having an off pitch.

In our Patent No. 2,458,134, an adjustable louvered ventilator for gable roofs is disclosed but is not satisfactory -for the purposes of the ventilator described in the instant application.

The adjustable louvered ventilator, generally designated by the reference number 13, is of generally triangular shape and as shown in FIG. 1 fits the very peak of the gable roof at the hip joint thereof so that there is no dead air space above. This permits complete ventilation of the roof at the point where it is most "ice needed and our novel adjustable roof ventilator 13 is angularly adjustable in such a manner that it is readily usable with gable roofs regardless of the pltch of the roof as will be more clearly described hereinbelow.

Ventilator 13 is comprised of a frame 14 which includes a pair of frame members 15 connected together in angulated relation for angular adjustment therebetween. Each of the frame members 15 includes a web 16 having a relatively small rear flange 17 as best seen in FIGS. 4 and S. The forwardmost edge of the web 16 has an outwardly extending portion 18 which is reversely bent to define a relatively wide front flange 19 having an inner edge portion reversely bent as at 20 to present a reinforced smooth inner edge. It will be noted that the relatively wide front flange 19 especially that portion defined by the outwardly extending portion 18 permits the frame members to overlap the frieze boards 12 of the hip joint 11.

Our novel adjustable louvered ventilator may be formed of any substantially rigid material such as wood or metal but is preferably formed of aluminum since there is no tendency of the aluminum to rust even along the cut edges thereof as is in the case of galvanized or steel louvers. Louvers formed of wood have a tendency to warp the wood is the least bit green and it has been found that aluminum louvers are not only durable but are more inexpensive than the louvers formed of wood or other metallic material.

The frame members 15 are hingedly connected to gether at their uppermost ends as at 21 to permit angular adjustment therebetween. Hinge 21 permits the frame members 15 to pivot or hinge so that the angular relation of the members may be varied from the position shown in FIG. 2 to the position indicated by dotted line configuration.

Referring now to FIG. 2 it will be seen that our novel ventilator 13 includes a plurality of longitudinally extensible and retractable louvers 24 traversing the frame members 15 and pivotally connected therewith. Each of the louvers 24 includes telescopically connected sections 25 and 25a. Section 25 includes a web 26 having a downwardly extending front flange 27 with its lowermost edge turned inwardly and having a rear flange 28. Section 251: of each of the louvers is provided with a web portion 26a and front and rear flanges 27a and 28a respectively. It will be noted that because of the channel shaped cross sectional configuration of the respective telescoping louver sections 25 and 25a respectively pre vents relative rotative movement therebetween during extensible and retractable movement of these sections as will be more fully described hereinafter.

Referring now to FIG. 3, it will be seen that section 25 has the terminal portion thereof laterally bent to define a relatively small, substantially rectangular shaped attachment tab 29 which is disposed in abutting relation with the inner surface of a web 16 of frame member 15 and these tabs are interconnected with the frame members 15 by pivot pins 30 which extend therethrough. The laterally bent terminal end portions of section 25 also include camming flanges 31 and 32 disposed on opposite sides of attachment tab 29 and in close proximity thereto. 'It is pointed out that telescoping sections 25a of each of the louvers 24 is provided with an identically constructed attachment camming flange as that of section 25 although not shown on the drawing. 'It will also be noted that each of the louvers 24 in cross section, as best seen in FIG. 3, extend obliquely with respect to the center lines of the frame members 15 with the front portion of the louvers being positioned downwardly. This arrangement permits free circulation of air between adjacent louvers while preventing the entrance of water or moisture therethrough.

It will be noted that the louvers 24 are of substantially identical construction except that these louvers become progressively shorter from the bottom towards the top of the ventilator construction.

. Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, it will be noted however that the lowermost louver 33 while being extensible and retractable is constructed somewhat differently from the remaining louvers and includes telescoping sections 34 and 34a. Section 34 is provided with a web 35 having a relatively wide depending front flange 36 with its lowermost end edge reversely bent as at 37. Section 34- also is provided with a relatively shallow upstanding rear flange 33 having its edge portion reversely bent as at 39 while section 34a is provided with a web 35a having 'a width substantially equal to that of web 35. Section 34a also includes a depending front flange 36a having a reversely bent portion 3%, as best seen in FIG.-3, and is provided with an upstanding rear flange 38a having a reversely bent edge 39a. It will be seen that while the inner ends of sections 34 and 34a of louver 33 are telescopically connected for extensible retractable movement therebetween these sections are prevented from relative rotation because of the mating arrangement of their respective front and rear flanges.

Each of the sections 34 and 34a of louver 33 has its outer terminal portion laterally bent upwardly as at 40 and is thereafter bent outwardly and downwardly to define a framing-engaging portion 41. This framing-engaging portion 41 of each section is secured to its associated frame member by pin 42 so that the frame-engaging portion is maintained in flush, abutting relation with the frame members 15. The bend line 41a between the laterally bent portion 45 and the frame-engaging portion 41 is perforated or relieved as at 43 so that louver 33 will pivot at these bent lines which define axes which extend substantially normal to the longitudinal center lines of the frame members 15.

Our novel adjustable louver may be angularly adjusted so that it will accommodate gable roofs regardless of the pitch of the roof. In some houses, the pitch of the roof may have a relatively shallow hip angle, for example, a 2 rise to 12 which means that the height of the roof changes 2 inches over a linear span of 12 inches. If a roof is so constructed then the ventilator must also have the frame members arranged in a correspondingly angulated relation and this may be achieved by pulling the frame members 15 apart a greater degree than, for example, the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The frame members when so pulled apart will pivot about their hinge connection 21 to a position indicated by the dotted line configuration of FIG. 2. During the adjustment of the angulated relation between frame members 15, the louvers 24 will be caused to simultaneously pivot about their longitudinal axis because of the cooperative relationship between the pivotal connection 29 and 30 of each louver and frame member, and the camming flanges 31 and 32 respectively. When the ventilator is adjusted from the full line position shown in FIG. 2 to the dotted line position in FIG. 2, the respective relation between the camming flanges 31 and 32 will be changed from the position shown in FIG. 4 to that shown in FIG. 5. It will be noted that the forward or lower disposed flanges 31 are disposed in camming and binding relation with respect to the inner surfaces of the frame members 15 when in the position shown in full lines in FIG. 2 and when the frame members 15 are moved apart, cam flanges 32 are moved into camming relation with members 15 while cam flanges 31 are moved out of camming relation with the frame members, thus causing louvers to pivot slightly about a pivotal axis defined by the pins 39 and also causing a torque or twisting action about the bend lines between the tabs 29 and the web of associated telescopic sections. The combination twisting and pivoting which results primarily from the cooperative relation between the camming flanges with the 4 v frame members during angular adjustment of the ventilator as the members 15 are pivoted away from each other causes the louvers to pivot about their longitudinal axis so that the louvers will move from a relatively steep inclined position as shown in FIG. 3 to a position which is only slightly inclined from the horizontal. This permits the louvers to be used on relatively shallowly pitched roofs while thus maintaining the space between the ad jacent louvers so their ventilating effect is not impaired.

When the ventilator is to be used for a gable roof having a relatively steep pitch, then the frame members 15 will be urged towards each other. This causes the angle between the frame members to become more acute and camming flanges 32 will be moved out of camming relation with the inner surfaces of members 15 while camming flanges 31 will be moved into camming and binding relation with members 15. This causes the louvers. to pivot and twist until they assume the relatively steep oblique position as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Thus when the louvers 24 are in the position illustrated in FIG. 3 the total area between each adjacent louver will be essentially the same as the total areas between these louvers when the latter are in a more extended condition as indicated by the dotted line configuration of FIG. 2. It will therefore be noted that the pivotal movement of the louvers 24 about their respective longitudinal axes permits wider range of angular adjustment of the ventilator so that the ventilator will accommodate any gable roof regardless of the pitch of the roof.

It will therefore be seen that we have provided a novel angularly adjustable louvered ventilator which is readily adjustable to accommodate gable roofs regardless of the pitch of the roof.

It will also be noted from the foregoing description that our novel angularly adjustable ventilator is so uniquely constructed and arranged that the various louvers are not only longitudinally extensible and retractable during angular adjustment of the ventilator but these louvers also will be caused to pivot about their respective longi tudinal axes thus permitting the ventilator to have a wide range of adjustability Without impairing the ventilative effect of the device.

It will also be seen from the preceding paragraphs that our novel louvered ventilator is not only of durable construction but is constructed and arranged to function in a more eflicient manner than any comparable adjustable ventilator structures.

It will of course be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details arrangement and proportions of the various parts without departing from the scope of our invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An angularly adjustable louvered ventilator for use with gable roofs which vary in pitch, having in combination an inverted V-shaped frame including a pair of elongate frame members interconnected together for angular adjustment, a plurality of longitudinally extensible and retractable louvers extending between said frame members and interconnected therewith and each including telescopically connected sections, said louvers being disposed in substantially parallel relation traversing said inverted V-shaped frame, pivot means connecting the terminal portions of said louvers to their frame members for pivotal movement of the louvers about their longitudinal axes, the terminal portions of said louvers having camming surfaces abutting with cooperating surfaces of said frame members and cooperating with said pivotal means for causing simultaneous pivotal movement of said louvers on their longitudinal axes when the angular relation of said members is adjusted from one angle to another.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said camming surfaces are disposed eccentrically of the longitudinal axis of their associated louver.

3. An angularly adjustable louvered ventilator for use with gable roofs which vary in pitch, having in combination an inverted V-shaped frame including a pair of elongate frame members interconnected together for angular scopically connected sections, said louvers being disposed in substantially parallel relation'traversing said inverted V- shaped frame and in cross section extending obliquely to the longitudinal center lines of said frame members, pivot means connecting the terminal portions of said louvers to said frame members for pivotal movement of louvers about their longitudinal axes, the terminal portions of said louvers having camming surfaces abutting with cooperating surfaces of said frame members and cooperating with said pivotal means for causing simultaneous pivotal movement of said louvers on their longitudinal axes when the angular relation of said members is adjusted from one angle to another.

4. The structure as defined in claim 3 wherein each telescopic section of each of said louvers is of channelshaped cross sectional configuration.

5. An angularly adjusted louvered ventilator for use with gable roofs which vary in pitch, having in combination an inverted V-shaped frame including a pair of elongate frame members interconnected together for angular adjustment, a plurality of longitudinally extensible and retractable louvers extending between said frame members and interconnected therewith and each including telescopically connected sections, said louvers being disposed said frame members is adjusted from one angle to another.

6. The structure as defined in claim 5 and an additional louver extending between said frame members adjacent the terminal portions thereof and interconnected 'therewith and including telescopically connected sections, and pivot means connecting the terminal portions of said additional louver to said frame members for pivotal move ment of said last-mentioned louverabout axes extending substantially normal to its longitudinalaxis.

7. An angularly adjustable louver-ed ventilator for use with gable roofs which vary in pitch, having in combina- V i tion an inverted V-shaped frame including a pair of elongate frame members interconnected together for angular adjustment, a plurality of longitudinally extensible and bers and interconnected therewith and each including telescopically connected sections, said louvers being disposed in substantially parallel relation traversing said inverted V-shaped frame and in cross section extending obliquely to the longitudinal center lines of said frame members, the terminal portions of each of said louvers being bent to define laterally extending tabs at opposite ends thereof disposed in abutting relation with said frame members, pivot means pivotally connecting the tabs of each" louver to said frame members to permit pivotal movement of the louvers about their longitudinal axes, the

terminal portions of aid louvers having fiangesextending laterally therefrom in close proximity to said tabs and 'defining camming surfaces abutting with cooperating" surfaces of said frame members and cooperating with said pivot means and tabs for causing simultaneous pivotal movement of the louvers on their longitudinal axes when 8. The structure as defined in claim 5 wherein the terminal portions of eachof said louvers is offset to thereby permit relative hinging movement between said louvers and their associated terminal portions.

9. An angular'ly adjustable louvered ventilator for use with gable roofs which vary in pitch, having in combination an inverted V-shaped frame including a pair of elongate frame members interconnected together for angular adjustment, a plurality of longitudinally extensible and retractable louvers extending between said frame members and interconnected therewith 'and each including telescopically connected sections, said louvers beingdisposed in substantially parallel relation traversing said inverted V-shaped frame, pivot means connecting the terminal portions of said louvers to their frame members for pivotal movement of the louvers about their longitudinal axes, the

faces on opposite sides of said pivot means abutting with cooperating surfaces of said frame members, said camming UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,458,134 Belden Jan. 4, 1949' I 2,589,529 Bowers Mar. 18, 1952 2,694,446 1 Smith Nov. 16, 1954 2,722,981 1 Leslie Nov. 8, 1955 retractable louvers extending between said frame mem-.

means for causing pivotal movement of said louvers on' their longitudinal axes in an opposite direction during angular adjustment of said members.

References Cited in thefile of this patent 

